Elections in Czech republic: one poll puts opposition ahead, another predicts neck-and-neck race

Photo: Elections in Czech republic: one poll puts opposition ahead, another predicts neck-and-neck race

Analysts warned, however, that the result of the elections on Friday and Saturday could see the two main rivals neck-and-neck.

The survey, conducted by the private SC&C polling agency for the daily Mlada Fronta Dnes, indicated that the Civic Democratic Party would win, but have to form a coalition, as it would not gain enough parliamentary seats to govern alone.

The left-leaning Social Democrats, who have governed since 1998, would be second in the election, according to the poll, which questioned 1,452 respondents on May 25-26.

The survey indicated Civic Democratic Party enjoyed 30.8 percent support among Czech voters, while the Social Democrats had 24.2 percent, according to the daily.

Three more parties were likely to clear the 5-percent threshold needed to win mandates in the 200-seat lower chamber of the parliament: the Communist Party with 12.1 percent, the Green Party with 8.6 percent and the center-right Christian Democratic Party with 5.8 percent, the survey said.

Another poll published Sunday indicated, however, that the two main parties would be neck-and-neck in the race, the AP reports.

Factum Invenio agency surveyed 955 people on May 18-24, and results indicated a slight lead for Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek's Social Democrats with 28.5 percent, followed by the Civic Democratic Party with 27.8 percent.

The Communists have the support of 17.3 percent of Czechs, the Christian Democrats of 9 percent and the Green Party of 8.6 percent, according to Factum Inventio's poll.